Officer Podbielniak has been cited in 5 different lawsuits for police misconduct costing the BI taxpayers (the city is self insured) nearly $500,000.00.

In February, a federal juge has agreed to allow a plaintif to sue Officer Podbielniak in federal court for committing a hate crime. The action is first time in Illinois history such a motion has been allowed in a federal court. Frank Podbielniak is not a good cop and is no friend to the people of BI.

If this information is true, how is it that he has not been dismissed from the force? 5 different lawsuits citing the same type of misconduct would seem excessive to most people and action taken to prevent this type of abuse from happening over and over. Sounds like a serious problem with this officer. I don't believe his behavior is acceptable, get rid of him before lawsuit number 6 comes around. Really, this is difficult to understand. Is someone protecting this officer?

for the record wrote:

Officer Podbielniak has been cited in 5 different lawsuits for police misconduct costing the BI taxpayers (the city is self insured) nearly $500,000.00.In February, a federal juge has agreed to allow a plaintif to sue Officer Podbielniak in federal court for committing a hate crime. The action is first time in Illinois history such a motion has been allowed in a federal court. Frank Podbielniak is not a good cop and is no friend to the people of BI.

Go easy on frank. He is an elected official (trustee)in the Village of Posen. With all the stuff and investigationsof stealing money over there he probably is under a lotof pressure. I don't think people in Posen know about the things he is accused of in Blue Island. He was a police officer in Posen before comingto Blue Island. My guess is they knew of his abusive ways towards people and got rid of him. Has he ever beenbrought before the Blue Island Police Commission formisconduct? If not, how come?

There is no BI Police Commission. If you want to file a complaint against a BI police officer; you have to place your complaint with the watch commander who promptly bite your head off. The best thing to do if you have a problem with the BIPD is to call an attorney because he/she is the only one who will listen to you.

That may explain why Officer Podbielniak has been able to avoid any type of formal inquiry into alleged misconduct. That must make it awfully difficult for his supervisors to take any corrective measures against him, let alone fire him for questionable behavior related to his actions as a police officer. It would seem to me that if allowed to continue down this path of questionable antics and abuse of office that he will eventually be held responsible (punitive damages). His superiors should also be aware that they also will be held accountable. Sounds like he is a disaster that already has happened. Police officers like him are a civil attorneys dream. I would love to be the attorney of record when lawsuit #6 comes around. Good luck.

for the record wrote:

There is no BI Police Commission. If you want to file a complaint against a BI police officer; you have to place your complaint with the watch commander who promptly bite your head off. The best thing to do if you have a problem with the BIPD is to call an attorney because he/she is the only one who will listen to you.

Hard to believe. Podbielniak is a "supervisor" and responsible for setting an example for those with less time and experience on the job. What a poor example by todays standards. The command staff of the Blue Island Police Department is well aware of his undisireable traits, they monitor him every day at the request of those that he is supposed to supervise. The younger officers recognize that Podbielniak is often misguided and not to be used as an example of policing our community. There are other police officers, young and old that truely do an excellent job despite the fact their forced to work under the supervision of this individual. Podbielniak himself has cost the city at least $500,000 in legal fees and payouts to settle claims regarding lawsuits filed against him and the city. Eventually, those politicians that protect him will shy away and the hammer will fall. The police officers in surrounding communities know not to trust him and are aware that to be associated with him in any way leaves them vunerable to lawsuits. To those that have to work with him and subject themselves to his "antics" stay alert and do not let him demoralize you. Please continue to serve the community fairly, faithfully and with commitment and pride. That is what the leadership of the Blue Island Police Department would ask you to do. Podbielniak has no credibility here. Stay safe.

Pobielniak would do a good job if he made chief. He is probably the only officer that is qualified for the position. All the others play politics and frank does not. He is friends with several of the elected officials in Blue Island and the Mayor seems to support him. I think if he was given the chance he would straighten out the police department because it needs that. I guess they do a pretty good job now but Frank would help them do it better. Good luck to you Frank and I wish you well.

To committ a "hate crime" against a person is a violation of state and federal law. "For the record" states that a Federal judge has allowed a plaintiff to sue Podbielniak for committing a hate crime, again, being criminal acts. Has there been a criminal investigatio by state or federal authorities? If not, why not? Are they aware of this most unusual ruling by the federal judge, afterall, the first time in Illinois history wouild indicate the ruling judge must have considered it to be a serious offense, even at the civil level. I hope the facts in this case are not being distorted and slanted to make Podbielniak look bad. I've done some research and cannot find the cases you refer to ( 5 lawsuits costing BI tax payers $500,000.) I would think this would be public record. Please direct me to sources that can support your comments. I've got a lot of spare time and be happy to look into this alleged behavior . There is no way that he should be supervising police officers let alone be considered for Chief of the Blue Island Police Department.

I believe podbielniak was a policeman in Palos Hills and fired from there for some type of serious misconduct. Then became policeman in Posen and got tossed from there and wound up in Blue Island PD. I think he worked in Crestwood as mall cop and had problems there to. Either way not what I would want as a chief in BI. Has had lots of problems in Posen as an alderman, always screwing the town people and workers there. They don't like him much but wants to be mayor there. Good luck and please keep him there and not to become BI police chief.

LMAO!!...Must of these post are by the same person changing his name. Did the officer arrest you at one time or another? Though I don't personaly know this police officer it's hard for me to believe any of this is true coming from someone that talks to himself. There are no lawsuits pending involving this officer and how would you know such a thing unless your directly involved with City business.

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